YouTube has officially clocked two decades of redefining how the world consumes content. As the platform celebrated its 20th anniversary this week, it announced that over 20 billion videos have been uploaded since its inception—an astonishing figure that speaks to its massive global influence.

According to an AFP report, YouTube’s journey began on April 23, 2005, when co-founder Jawed Karim uploaded the very first video titled ‘Me at the Zoo’. The 19-second clip, featuring Karim in front of an elephant exhibit at San Diego Zoo, now holds a place in internet history with over 348 million views.

The platform itself was conceived earlier that year by former PayPal colleagues Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Karim, reportedly during a casual dinner party. The domain name YouTube.com was registered on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2005, marking the symbolic birthday of the service.

Since then, YouTube has evolved from a novelty website for homemade videos into the world’s largest digital video-sharing platform, reshaping everything from entertainment and education to advertising and news. As of 2024, YouTube sees an average of 20 million videos uploaded daily and reaches more than 2.5 billion viewers globally, according to statistics shared by market trackers Statista and eMarketer. The platform’s paid services—YouTube Music and YouTube Premium—have collectively crossed 100 million subscribers.

What began with humorous sketches and vlogs is now a powerful media ecosystem. YouTube today hosts an array of content—from podcasts, tutorials, and political campaign videos to documentaries, concert recordings, and influencer-led trends. Google, which acquired YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion in stock, leveraged its search and advertising capabilities to make YouTube not just a creative outlet but a revenue-generating machine for both the company and millions of creators worldwide.

eMarketer analyst Ross Benes noted that YouTube is on track to overtake all US cable TV services in paid viewership within two years. It already garners more than a billion hours of watch time daily just on television screens, as per a Google update. Benes added, “If you go back 20 years, it would have seemed laughable that this website with kids making parody videos would become a threat to Disney, ABC, and CBS. That’s what they were able to accomplish.”

Looking ahead, YouTube plans to enhance its television viewing experience this summer with new features and quality improvements, although specific details have yet to be revealed. The platform also continues to navigate challenges—from moderating sensitive content and addressing copyright issues to staying competitive against rising short-form platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, and streaming giants like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

Still, the milestone of 20 billion uploads cements YouTube’s legacy as one of the most transformative digital innovations of the 21st century—one that began with a simple clip at the zoo and grew into a cultural and commercial powerhouse.